The Cleveland Browns are committed to the community. Through First and Ten, the Dawg Pound is encouraged to share what they are doing to give back. Get inspired and check out what these fans are doing to help their community:
How do you give back?
#give10
Name: Janet Diamond
Hometown: Northeast Ohio
How they give back:
Janet Diamond was diagnosed over a year ago with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive nervous system (neurological) disease that destroys nerve cells and causes disability. She has difficulty in moving every limb of her body, she needs a wheelchair, and talking is very straining for her. Despite the daily challenges of ALS, she volunteered two hours of her time to visit with Physical Therapy students at Cleveland State University and helped them to learn more about ALS. She is a true inspiration and continues to give to others even as she battles this illness.
Name: Joanne
Hometown: Akron, OH
How they give back:
Joanne is a volunteer in an after school "Good News Club." The club is available to provide writing and investigative skills to youth who are looking to become journalists in any field. She has been volunteering with the organization for nearly four years and enjoys what she does because it gives her the opportunity to help kids in her community. Each day she gets to see the value of investing in kids and offering them hope in spite of their circumstances or surroundings. She is more willing to take the time to spend with the kids because she can see the difference it makes in the lives of the kids and it ultimately brings the schools, churches and others in the community together. Outside of this commitment, she is happy to participate in her child's school PTA and church children's ministry.
Name: Larry Elder
Hometown: Elyria, OH
How they give back:
Larry and his family help out at his church and they have a free giveaway every third Saturday. It is a huge task and they need a number of men to accomplish the undertaking. So much so, that it takes about 24 man hours to set up every month. They give it all away for free without judging who is in need and who comes up to receive. They have been doing this for more than eight years. Once a month for eight years, which is incredible.
Name: Ann Madigan & Stacy Barlock
Hometown: East Cleveland
How they give back:
Ann Madigan and Stacy Barlock are volunteers with the Greater Fisher House in Cleveland and organization that provides "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times – during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. Stacy is a Special Events Coordinator at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has donated her planning expertise to smaller organizations needing assistance in doing Fisher House Fundraisers. She has also been crucial in arranging complimentary zoo experiences for Fisher House and military families. Ann has also volunteered at numerous Fisher House events and donated her time to assist with administrative functions and mailings vital to the nonprofit's success.
Name: Greater Cleveland Fisher House
Hometown: Various
How they give back:
The Greater Cleveland Fisher House serves veterans who not only have served this country, but have also served their communities. The following veterans have been such a core part of the Fisher House throughout this year of new beginnings and the ground breaking of a location in Cleveland. Robert Helwagon a Vietnam Veteran who served three years in the Marine Corps lives in Mogodore, OH with his service dog. Terry Lee is a Desert Storm Veteran who served a total of 15 years in the Army. He works part-time at the Salvation Army continuing to give back to his community in New London, OH with Marilyn Riley. Stephen, another Vietnam veteran served in the Army and lives in Canton with his wife Carolyn. Bob Simonovich was an Army Veteran and Purple heart recipient. He, his wife and four children are living happily in the area. Finally, Rick DeChant is a Coast Guard Veteran who served during the New York Harbor Defense Day after 9/11. He is the master behind the curtain at the Fisher House and loves to give back to his fellow veterans.
Interested in signing up your volunteer group for First and Ten? Group forms available! **Click here**_ to learn more about how to #give10_
Follow @BrownsGiveBack on Twitter and Instagram and tell us what you are doing to help others using #give10 to unite us all as Browns fans. Give 10 hours, help your community.
The Browns are dedicated to #give10 through the team's First and Ten initiative. Launched in June 2014, the Cleveland Browns First and Ten campaign is the team's community program, established to inspire fans to volunteer in and help their communities throughout the world by volunteering for 10 hours each year. Since its inception, Browns fans have committed to volunteering more than 2 million hours to impact their communities by pledging to #give10. Through First and Ten, the Browns are the only NFL club to promote a long-term volunteering program that unifies the team and its entire fan base, with the goal of impacting every individual's city across the globe, as well as the franchise's local community. All Browns fans are encouraged to join the volunteering effort by signing the First and Ten pledge on the team's website and by sharing their stories with #give10
